Kohlberg

Question 1

Describe Kohlbergs methodology

Answer 1

Interviews- used to assess the moral reasoning of the boys which produced qualitative data
Longitudinal research- 75 American boys for 12 years, interviewed every 3 years
Cross cultural comparison- studied moral reasoning in Britain, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, Turkey

Question 2

Describe Kohlbergs sample

Answer 2

75 American boys aged 10-16 at the start aged 22-28 at the end
Studied people from Britain, Taiwan, Canada, Mexico, Turkey

Question 3

What did Kohlberg research?

Answer 3

Moral reasoning- judgements about right and wrong
Used moral dilemmas and interviews
How people came to these decisions was important not the decsion made

Question 4

Procedures

Answer 4

Created 9 hypothetical moral dilemmas which presented conflict between 2 moral issues
Each ppt discussed 3 of these and asked 10 or more open ended qs
After answers analysed common themes were identified to create his stage theory
The same interviews were used with kids and adults in other countries and compared to original American study

Question 5

Give some examples of the questions ppts were asked on the moral dilemmas

Answer 5

Should heinz steal the drug (why/why not)?
Does heinz have a duty/obligation to steal the drug (why/why not?)
Is it important for people to do everything they can to save another’s life (why/why not?)

Question 6

Findings

Answer 6

Moral development slower in Mexico and Taiwan
Religion had no effect on moral development

Question 7

Conclusions

Answer 7

Stages are universal
Differences in speed of progression